MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Two men have been arrested in connection with the beating and robbery of a tattoo artist in Miami Beach after police received several tips from people who had seen video of the attack on news outlets.
Lian Quintero, 20, and Cristian Schiavone, 19, were arrested this week on charges of strong-arm robbery and aggravated battery.
According to an arrest report, Quintero was identified as the person in the video by one of his friends and a witness.
Quintero was arrested Monday and provided a taped confession, police said.
Police said Schiavone was identified in a photo lineup by the victim, Tonny Fagundez. Schiavone was arrested Tuesday and provided a taped confession, police said.
The robbery was caught on camera just before 5 a.m. Aug. 31 as Fagundez was heading home from work.
Police said Fagundez took the bus from South Beach toward his North Beach home and then rode his skateboard the rest of the way.
Police said a dark-colored SUV pulled up alongside him, and the suspects asked the victim for a cigarette.
Fagundez agreed to give them a cigarette, but said the men got out of the SUV and began to approach him.
In fear for his life, the victim ran toward a Chevron gas station at 71st Street and Harding Avenue, police said.
"Before I got the chance to give them whatever it was they asked for -- the cigarette -- that's when I got the first blow to the face that knocked me completely down," Fagundez said.
Surveillance video shows two men attacking Fagundez on the ground and taking his backpack, which contained work supplies.
Police said the men also stole the victim's skateboard.
Miami Beach Fire Rescue treated Fagundez at the scene. Authorities said he suffered bruising and cuts and had a fingernail torn off.
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